Welcome to Crackley Hall School.

Our Admissions Update provides the latest on our admissions process, news, and developments at Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Nursery. We hope the newsletter conveys our caring, family atmosphere, where attention to each individual is at the centre of all we do, whilst displaying the many opportunities, enjoyment and achievements of our children across academics, sports, and the arts.

This week, we were delighted to welcome back the prestigious Good Schools Guide for a second in-depth review. This will appear on the Good Schools Guide’s website shortly, and will include insights into the pastoral, teaching, learning and the co-curricular life of the school. 

Crackley Hall continues to be a very popular school of choice, but we ensure that we maintain our favourable class sizes as this allows us to give the attention needed to each child at this critical time in their development. We retain our small-school feel that makes it so special to be here but also offers the wealth of opportunities that stretch and challenge everyone. It's a place where the children are individuals who, along with their families, are well known to every member of staff. Our children are very happy and this matters so much to us.  Just as importantly, our parents feel a real sense of connection and involvement.

We look forward to welcoming you to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Nursery soon.

Robert Duigan

Two pupils were awarded Gold certificates in this year's Primary Mathematics Challenge, a fun and exciting mathematical competition aimed at pupils in Years 5 and 6.

Pupils from Junior 5 and Junior 6 took part in the challenge which involves tackling a series of questions that boost confidence in mathematics while developing reasoning and problem solving skills.

Congratulations go to Eleanor and Charlotte who were both awarded Gold certificates and also to the nine pupils who achieved a Silver and the 11 pupils who received a Bronze certificate.

A huge well done to all who took part!

Crackley Hall’s Key Stage 2 Evening of Performing Arts took place on Tuesday 4 March showcasing the breadth and depth of pupils’ musical and dramatic talents.

Musical Theatre Group opened the proceedings with a spectacular medley from the musical Annie and that was followed by 22 performances, all sparkling with crisp clear deliveries, fine-tuned fingers and well-rehearsed polish.

The evening finished, as it had begun, with the stage packed with performers as the Chamber Choir and then Choral Group delivered glorious performances of favourites such as Viva La Vida, Defying Gravity and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.

Headmaster, Rob Duigan expressed his delight at it all announcing, ‘There is no better way to spend an evening than to come and watch Crackley’s children perform. They never cease to amaze me. Thank you to them all, it has been a truly memorable evening.”

Many thanks to all of the staff involved in preparing the children and supporting the production and to Mrs Olden and Mrs Wildey who have shown us yet again what talent, energy and zest for the performing arts there is at Crackley Hall.

At Crackley Hall School, we have embraced digital learning to enable us to provide the highest-quality learning in the future. This means championing digitised content and ensuring that learning is personalised, collaborative and enables children to show their understanding and talents in a range of ways. We also believe that it will be invaluable, as the primary educators of your children, for you to be able to see their learning at school, as it happens.

In the last 18 months, we have developed the use of the children’s Digital Journal through the Seesaw app to capture learning, alongside their school exercise books. This has involved a substantial investment to ensure that all year groups have access to their own set of iPads.

We have been doing this, in order to:

• Ensure that learning is engaging, interactive and collaborative.
• Build the children’s digital skills in preparation for the modern world.
• Increase sustainability across the school.
• Improve access and evidence learning for a range of children’s learning styles.

We have rolled out the Digital Journals to parents to allow them to engage with school in a new way.

A very excited (and very nervous) U11 Netball team travelled to King’s High School in March as one of 28 teams from across the country competing in the ISA U11 National Netball Finals.

In their first round session, the girls faced six 12-minute games. They finished fourth in the pool and qualified for the afternoon's Shield competition.

In the Shield semi-final, Crackley faced Lingfield College and demonstrated dominance across the court, resulting in a convincing 5-1 win. They then faced Scarisbrick Hall in the final. Despite a tough fight, they lost 5-3 to a well-drilled team, and came away with a well-earned Silver medal.

Team coach, Mrs Vaughan, said, "The girls were a credit to us on the day. Their team spirit, positive attitude, support and willingness to learn and develop through the day was outstanding. They faced 4 degree temperatures, frozen hands, torrential hail and wet clothing with a smile and enthusiasm. I can’t speak highly enough of their behaviour and attitude. They were an absolute pleasure to coach."

A huge well done to them all!

The U11 Football team put in a super performance at the ISA National Football finals and were delighted to come away as Bowl champions.

In March, Crackley Hall's U11 Football team travelled to the home of the England teams, St George’s Park, an amazing venue, which provided plenty of excitement in itself. The team played brilliantly taking the game to their opponents all day. After a mixed start to their group round matches, they found their form in the afternoon.

In the Bowl competition, Crackley were unbeaten in their group earning themselves a place in the Bowl final. The final was closely contested, ending 1-1 after extra time, leading to a penalty shootout. The team showed great courage, with all players stepping up to take penalties. They won 3-0, thanks to Harrison's incredible saves. After nearly six hours of football, the team earned a trophy and medals, one of only three teams to do so, an excellent result. We were very proud of them all.

Little Crackers Nursery has rolled out Famly, a nursery digital app, to our parents, to allow them to be more involved with their children’s nursery day. 

The move to Famly has enabled us to collaborate more closely, with nursery staff sharing photos, observations and insights in real time to enhance and enrich the children’s education.

The app is super easy to use, both for staff sharing images and messages and for parents accessing their own child’s profile. 

It's proved a really engaging way for parents to stay in touch with their children's activities.

Little Crackers Nursery is now on daynurseries.co.uk, the leading review website for nurseries. Their website provides information and verified reviews of nurseries across the UK and are a great way for parents to start the process of looking for a nursery place for their child. 

Nursery reviews offer valuable insights into other parents' first hand experiences and are a useful tool in the decision making process. 

Why not have a read of our reviews here.

It's important to visit a nursery too and if you would like to arrange a visit just email admissions@littlecrackers.co.uk or call 01926 514410.

In Junior 3 to Junior 6, our reading program, Accelerated Reader, motivates pupils to read more through engaging quizzes. As pupils increase the volume of their reading, they develop greater reading stamina, word recognition, and language comprehension skills, which impacts upon their attainment and progress across the curriculum.

Congratulations to Ella, Gabriella and Hector who were our first 'Word Millionaires' this school year.

The latest edition of the Crackley Review is now available. 

This publication gives a super insight into life in school and the wonderful learning that goes on day in day out here at Crackley Hall School and Little Crackers Nursery.

It makes a wonderful memento for our families, and we hope you all enjoy looking through the stories and photos.

You can find an electronic copy of the Crackley Review here.

The latest issue of The Minnacle has just been published, showcasing our pupils' work. The Minnacle celebrates our pupils at their best and this latest edition includes plenty of amazing examples, from fabulous art and design work, to Creative writing, language skills super descriptive writing and excellent examples of scientific working. Why not have a read yourself - you can find a copy here.

Take a look at The Pinnacle too, it celebrates the work of pupils at our Foundation's senior school, Princethorpe College, you can find a copy here. 

Thursday 8 May 2025 - 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Prospective pupils and their parents are warmly invited to Crackley Hall and Little Crackers Open Evening on Thursday 8 May from 5.00pm. 

Come and find out more about what a Crackley education can do for your child. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to get a feel for the school and nursery, to meet Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, and speak to key members of staff.

To book your place, please click here.

If you have any questions or need further information then please do contact our Registrar, Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email on admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk. More information is also available on the school website www.crackleyhall.co.uk/admissions-crackley. 

Wednesday 9 April, 2.30pm and 4.00pm and Thursday 10 April, 2.30pm and  4.00pm

Princethorpe College are delighted to be hosting LOL Theatre Company's lovingly adapted production of The Tale of Peter Rabbit in The Clarkson Theatre in the run up to Easter.

When young Peter Rabbit disobeys his mother and enters the forbidden garden belonging to Mr McGreggor, he indulges himself with lettuce, green beans and radishes, however he soon starts to feel sick and goes in search of some parsley to soothe his stomach ache. Who does he encounter when he ventures further into the vegetable patch? None other than Mr McGreggor himself! After a frantic chase, he loses his clothes and his sense of direction. Will Peter Rabbit escape Mr McGreggor's clutches and return home unharmed? More importantly, will he learn his lesson and listen to his mother's warnings next time? Let's hope so!

This 45 minute family friendly production is based on the classic short story by Beatrix Potter and teaches about the importance of listening to warnings, doing the right thing and facing the consequences of your actions. Recommended for ages 4 and above.

This enchanting theatre show brings Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters to life! This is a public performance and all are welcome.

Tickets

• Adult ticket - £10
• Child ticket - £5
• Under 4s go FREE

Click here to book your seats.

Our Stay 'n' Play sessions run every Wednesday during term-time from 10.30am to 11.45am and are just £2.50, including refreshments. This is the perfect way to familiarise yourself and your child with Little Crackers. All are always welcome, so why not bring a friend!

Stay 'n Play regularly organises special activities for parents and little ones to enjoy. From drama and dance activities to hands on creative fun, and not to mention our annual Teddy Bears' Picnic and Christmas Party, there's guaranteed to be something for everyone at our friendly toddler group.

To see the latest upcoming events click here to visit the Stay 'n' Play page on our website.

There is no need to book for a regular session but some of the activities may need to be booked in advance, please contact Mrs Jenny Vaughan on 01926 514410 or email staynplay@littlecrackers.co.uk to reserve your place.

For more information, you can also visit www.littlecrackers.co.uk/stay-n-play. 

Wednesday 4 June 2024 - 6.30pm to 8.30pm 

Princethorpe College's Summer Open Evening will take place on Wednesday 4 June from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. This is a perfect opportunity for those looking to join the College in 2026 and beyond to visit the school. There will be activities in each department for children to participate in and our Headmaster, Grove du Toit, will also address visitors during the evening.

Light refreshments will be available.

Please do spread the word amongst friends and family, as all are welcome.  

To book your place please click here.

For further information on admissions to Princethorpe College please contact the Admissions Team on 01926 634201/297 or email admissions@princethorpe.co.uk. 

Thursday 26 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and Sunday 29 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm

A celebration of the College pupils' GCSE and A-level Art, Photography Textile and Design work will take place in the Sixth Form Centre on Thursday 26 June from 6.00pm to 8.30pm and on Sunday 29 June from 2.00pm to 4.30pm.

A range of design and technology projects, from resistant materials to textiles, will be showcased alongside the stunning art and photography work the College is renowned for.

Comments, Paul Hubball, Head of Art, "This is a great opportunity to share our pupils' fantastic creativity with a wider audience and to welcome more art and design lovers to Princethorpe."

All are welcome. On Thursday evening admission is free, on the Sunday admission will be £5 per car including entry to the College's Summer Fest. Light refreshments will be available.

Sunday 29 June 2024 - 11.00am to 7.00pm

Princethorpe’s PTA are joining forces with the Foundation’s Commercial Enterprises Team to host a new exciting event – Princethorpe Summer Fest.

Building on the success of our established Summer Fête and Motoring Festival, the new event will take place on Sunday 29 June from 11.00am to 7.00pm and will include live music, a theatre show, a vintage car display, literary talks, art exhibition, activities, games and crafts and lots more, as well as lots of food, drink and artisan products for all to purchase and enjoy.

Get the date in your diary now, as everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy lots of summer fun in the glorious grounds of Princethorpe College.

Entry is £5 per car to be paid on the day. To get your tickets click here. 

Most of our pupils enter at Nursery and progress through to Reception. Some pupils also join us at Reception and pupils are welcome at any age, dependent on a place being available. Places in other years may be limited and, in years where there is no place available, we operate waiting groups.

We encourage prospective parents and pupils to visit us both formally and informally to get a true flavour of the school. We hold various Open Events throughout the year, including a specific Nursery and Reception Open Evening in October, which prospective parents and pupils are most welcome to attend. Individual tours are also available. A meeting with Mr Robert Duigan, the Headmaster, is also a key part of the admissions process.

Our Registrar, Mrs Jenny Vaughan will be pleased to talk you through the admissions process and current availability, please contact her on 01926 514410/514444 or email her on admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk. 

To downlaod our latest prospectus pack please click here.

Reception 2025

We had very high levels of interest in places for our Reception class for September 2025 entry at the Early Bird Application deadline stage. As a result, we are considering having a second class for Reception 2025 if there is enough interest. If you have not yet registered but are interested in joining you are still very welcome to apply.

Current Reception to Junior 6

Applications for places in the current Reception to Junior 6 will be treated on an individual basis. In years where there is no place available, we operate waiting groups. Please contact Jenny Vaughan, our Registrar, to discuss.

Should a potential place be available you will be invited in to meet with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, then if appropriate you should complete a Registration Form and return it with the accompanying fee of £90 including VAT (non-returnable), after which time your child will be invited for a Taster Day. 

We will also ask for your child’s most recent school report to support your application and will seek a reference from your child’s current school. Following receipt of this information, confirmation of a place being offered would be made in writing. To secure your place return your completed Confirmation of Acceptance Form with a deposit of £400 within 14 days of the date of the offer being made.

The final deadline for applications and completed registration forms for entry in September 2025 is Friday 23 May 2025. All incoming pupils need to have completed the admissions process by Friday 6 June 2025 to enable the applicant to attend our planned Induction Morning at the end of that month. (Although a place at Crackley Hall may become available after this date, and applications will be processed, we cannot guarantee availability of places.)

Induction
New pupils are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the school, staff and fellow pupils when they are invited to our Induction Morning in the Trinity Term, normally at the end of June. 

Bursaries
Bursaries are available for pupils wishing to join Crackley Hall although these are normally awarded to children from Junior 3 and above. Whilst the main financial criteria are household income and net assets, each application is considered on its own merits. 

Costs associated with dependant, sick or disabled children will be taken into account and an allowance is made where there are other children already in the Foundation.

Our general guidance is that currently bursaries are not normally granted where gross household income exceeds £60,000 per annum and/or total net assets exceed £250,000.

Applications are made via an online system, please contact feessupport@princethorpe.co.uk to be sent a link to the system.

Note: Deposits are refunded after the end of the final term which the pupil spends at the school.

For more information and to download a registration form please click here.

The Crackley Hall community is enriched by the inclusion of children from many different countries and we are happy to assist parents relocating from overseas with their applications. The Crackley family currently includes children who have joined us from the USA, China, Brazil, Spain, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Korea.

If parents are visiting the UK we ask them to meet with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster.  Where a taster day is not possible and where children are English-speaking and in Year 2 or above, we can arrange for assessment papers in English and Maths to be sent to the child’s current school for them to administer and send back to us for marking.

Where children do not speak English as a first language or are too young to take assessment papers, we ask for school reports and a reference from the current school prior to offering a place.

We work closely at Crackley with a trusted partner who is experienced in English Language teaching and who can tailor a programme to meet the individual needs of children joining us.  This normally focuses on an initial intensive period of English Language support, tailing off as the child becomes more proficient and settles into life at Crackley Hall.

Our Registrar, Jenny Vaughan will always be happy to answer any questions regarding applications from overseas and to ensure that the admissions process runs as smoothly as possible.

You can email her at admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk or telephone her direct line on 01926 514410.

We understand that prospective parents may have many questions that they would like to ask ahead of applying for a place for their child at Crackley Hall.  We have included those most frequently asked, but should you have a query that isn’t covered here, please call Jenny Vaughan (pictured), our Registrar, on 01926 514410.

Q: How have you responded to VAT on school fees? 

We have a long-term fee strategy to minimise the impact of VAT and other external pressures on our families whilst maintaining educational excellence.

In January 2025 the Foundation reduced its fees so that the increase passed on to parents was 5%, substantially less than the 20% VAT rate. 

A combination of parental donations to our Annual Fund, along with strong retention and recruitment of pupils and an ongoing focus on organisational efficiencies have all had a positive impact on our decision making when calculating the fees for 2025-26. However, we are also balancing the impact of government policies including of course, VAT, the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, the removal of business rate relief and other external inflationary pressures.

Taking all the above factors into account we have just announced (2 April) that we will be increasing our fees across all our schools by 5% in September for the academic year 2025-2026. To see the current fees, click here.

Q: Will my child need to take an entrance exam for Crackley Hall?

A: Whilst we do not have a formal entrance examination for Crackley, we wish to ensure that every child will fit into school life and engage with our stimulating and varied range of activities and our ethos.  We ask prospective parents to meet with Mr Duigan, the Headmaster, and normally ask for children to join us on a taster day which can be arranged for a mutually convenient date. During the course of a taster day, we ask children in Years 2 and above to take papers in English and Maths although we will look at the taster day as a whole when offering a place. 

Q: Are there set joining points within the school year?

A: No, where places exist, we take children throughout the school year according to the preference of parents.

Q: What is the average class size at Crackley Hall?

A: The average class size is 18 pupils. Where class sizes exceed this we provide additional teaching support to ensure the same high standards and level of personal attention for each child. Our teacher to pupil ratio is 1:11 and our adult to child ratio is 1:8.

Q: Do you have to be Catholic to join Crackley Hall?

A: No. We welcome children from all faiths and cultural backgrounds. The Catholic ethos of the Princethorpe Foundation underpins the school and is central to its character as a caring and friendly environment where children are encouraged to be the best that they can be. The Crackley community includes Catholic children whose families wish their children to be educated within a Catholic setting but also other Christian denominations and children of other faiths or no faith.

Q: What makes Crackley Hall special?

A:  We talk a lot about the ethos of the Princethorpe Foundation and it is not just talk; it really is the basis of all that we do at Crackley Hall and parents often comment on the friendly atmosphere when they visit. We encourage the children to be kind to each other and to show respect for their peers and teachers, which in turn creates an environment where they are free to try their best and to develop their talents. The school has grown in recent years, but the family feel where each child is known as an individual remains. This combines with the highest standards of teaching and tuition from specialist teachers in Music, Drama, French, Sports, RE and Mandarin. 

Q: My child is a high achiever; how will Crackley benefit him/her? 

A: Children who demonstrate a high standard academically will be supported to further develop their abilities. A structured Able, Gifted and Talented programme operates through the school, ensuring that we meet the needs of children not just academically but also in other areas such as sports and performing arts. Sometimes parents worry that because their child is quiet or falls in the middle ground, they will be overlooked – this is not the case at Crackley as we strive to develop the potential of all children and to develop their talents.

With the support of our senior school, Princethorpe College, we have introduced the Junior da Vinci Programme to stretch children and to engender the idea that any child can be a gifted or talented student if they work hard. The programme encourages children to develop a growth mind-set and to take an active part in their own learning.

Q: My child may need additional support – what can Crackley Hall offer?

A: Our learning support team, which includes a Speech and Language therapist, works with children providing extra help at whatever level they need from 1:1 support to inclusion in small groups to hone their skills in specific areas, such as communication and language, numeracy and co-ordination.  

We are quick to recognise children who may need extra support and we try to 'catch' them before they begin to struggle. This means that class teachers refer children to our Learning Support Co-ordinator as soon as they are concerned. In this way we try not to miss anyone and to keep all children’s self-esteem high. We welcome input from parents and are very happy to discuss any concerns they may have.

If further assessment/advice is required from external professionals (e.g. educational psychologists), we support parents through the referral process. The school follows the guidance set out in the SEND Code of Practice 2015. 

Support for a child may entail 1:1 teaching for which there is a termly charge. Children who require this teaching will receive a structured, cumulative, multi-sensory learning programme tailored to their individual needs.

Should your child need any additional learning support, please indicate this on the registration form.  He/she will then spend some time with our SENCo during the taster day.

Q: What extra-curricular clubs do you offer?

A: We offer over 90 different lunch-time and after school clubs that cater for all interests – see the section on clubs, sport and music within this update. 

Q: I am a working parent – do you offer wrap around care and holiday provision?

A:  We offer ‘early bird’ supervision from 7.45am and after-care until 6.00pm, for which there is a small charge.  We run a holiday club subject to demand, in all school holidays apart from the Christmas week.

Q: If I have two or more children joining, will I get a discount?

A: Yes, families with more than one child at either Princethorpe College or Crackley Hall School receive a discount on the main tuition fee which is automatically applied to siblings (the youngest sibling is charged the full rate 5% for second and third siblings, 10% for fourth and subsequent siblings) and apply whilst there are two or more children attending schools in the Foundation but excluding children attending the Nursery.

Q: Do you accept childcare vouchers?

A: Yes, we take vouchers from most of the major schemes, which may be used against after-school care or holiday club.

Q: Do you operate a bus service to Crackley?

We do not currently operate a bus service, however should you accept a place we are happy to pass your details on to current parents in your post-code so that you can explore lift-share opportunities.

Q: When do I need to apply for a place in September?

A: We always advise the sooner, the better as classes fill up.  Children need to be registered by Friday 23 May 2025 at the latest in order for their application to be progressed for our Induction Morning in June. Our prospectus pack includes a registration form and once you return it to us with the registration fee, we can start the admissions process.

Q: If I apply, when will I hear about a place?

A: Once you have completed and returned a registration form, we will contact you to arrange for you and your child to meet Mr Duigan.  We will also ask for a copy of your child's latest report and request a reference from your child’s current school, when we have this information we will advise whether we will offer a place.  

Q: Will joining Crackley Hall give my child priority for joining Princethorpe?

A:  The Foundation has recently introduced an Early Offer Scheme for Year 5 Foundation pupils, which prioritises applications from Crackley Hall School and Crescent School pupils. 

The optional Scheme does not guarantee entry, however it allows for the sharing of academic assessment data between the Foundations schools in the summer term, this plus an online assessment, will provide the College with sufficient information for an offer to be made at the end of Year 5. 

Pupils with an early offer do not need to sit the Entrance Exams in November, unless they wish to apply for an Academic Scholarship.  They can also additionally apply for other Scholarships in the normal assessment timetable.

Uniform is compulsory for Crackley Hall pupils and helps to create a sense of shared identity, community spirit and pride in oneself and in the school.

Uniform can be purchased from the School Shop located at Princethorpe College.

Normally the Uniform Shop is open from 3.30pm to 4.30pm Mondays and Wednesdays during term time. Additionally, during the summer holidays, the shop is open on selected dates on an appointment only basis.

A uniform list is available in the Crackley Hall Information Booklet that can be found on the School Life page of the school's website here.

Music and Drama

Music is an integral part of life at Crackley Hall and at Little Crackers Nursery where the children benefit from a music and movement class each week.

Mrs Olden is our specialist music teacher and every class has one hour of music a week.  In Junior 1, every child learns to play the recorder and to read music and to play with others. 

In addition, children are encouraged to take part in private lessons with our experienced peripatetic teachers. 

We have a thriving choral group, chamber choir and orchestra and there are many opportunities to sing and play at school and at external events such as Young Voices in which the school has participated for many years.

Drama is also a core part of life at Crackley Hall and children develop their skills in choral speaking, improvisation, public speaking and performance. From the annual LAMDA Communication and Drama Exams to local drama festivals and in-house performances, there are many opportunities for children to develop their confidence and poise through drama. Some of our children have even taken part in professional productions at the RSC and in the West End.

Our end of year music and drama production is always unmissable and gives the children the opportunity to participate in a show of professional quality in a real theatre.

Sports

Our success in competitive sports is testament to the importance of physical education and the promotion of an active lifestyle at Crackley Hall. 

Whether children want to take part in an individual pursuit such as athletics or swimming or a team game such as netball or rugby, they will be encouraged by our enthusiastic and committed staff led by Mr Stedeford, Head of Games, to find an activity in which they can develop their skills and confidence. 

Our curriculum and programme of clubs take in a wide range of activities including dance and gymnastics. We are lucky to have spacious playing fields and we also use the sports facilities at Princethorpe College and The University of Warwick.

Clubs

Our extra-curricular programme is managed by Mrs Kat Vaughan, Head of Extended Day, and is extremely popular at Crackley Hall and we encourage children to find something that they will enjoy. From sports to singing to creative arts, with 90 different lunchtime and after schools clubs, there is something for every taste.

Our current clubs include rugby, netball, tennis, chamber choir, cookery, yoga and mindfulness, lego, chess, board games, ballet, karate, dance, coding, football, kindness, orchestra and homework club. Some of these clubs are run by teachers and are free of charge whilst some are from external providers.

For those who like to plan ahead the Foundation Term Dates are:

2025-26

Michaelmas Term 2025 
Tuesday 2 September to Wednesday 17 December 

Half Term
Saturday 18 October to Sunday 2 November

Lent Term 2026  
Tuesday 6 January to Thursday 26 March 

Half Term

Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February 

Trinity Term 2026 
Monday 20 April to Thursday 2 July

Half Term
Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May

We take children from when they turn two-years old and advise parents to apply in good time, at least a year in advance for places in our youngest Dormice room. The nursery day currently runs from 7.45am to 6.00pm, 51 weeks a year, to cater for the needs of working parents.

Places are available on a term-time only basis or all year round. Flexible morning and afternoon sessions are available and government nursery and employer childcare vouchers are accepted.

There is a minimum requirement of four sessions a week. 

We have dedicated nursery staff for our Dormice (two-year-olds), Hedgehogs (three-year-olds) and Badgers (four-year-olds).  Each group has its own leader and dedicated staff so they and the children get to know each other well.

If you are interested in your child attending Little Crackers we would recommend that you contact Mrs Jenny Vaughan, our Registrar, who will make an appointment for you and your child to meet with the Nursery Manager, Emma Birch, to discuss availability.

To secure a place, simply complete a Registration Form with your required sessions and preferred start date and return this with the accompanying fee of £75 to the Registrar. You will then receive confirmation in writing that we can offer a nursery place with an acceptance form for you to sign. 

Prior to starting, you and your child can attend a number of short settling in sessions, typically two or three, where you will meet your child’s key person. A start date, from which point sessions are billable, will be agreed with Nursery staff at the settling-in sessions.

If you are interested in a place at Little Crackers for your son or daughter we advise you to enquire in good time as places are limited and tend to get booked up early.

We are currently accepting places for immediate entry into Hedgehogs and Badgers, and limited entry into Dormice from June 2025. 

For further details on the places available, please contact Jenny Vaughan, Registrar on 01926 514410 or email admissions@crackleyhall.co.uk.